Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
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Cruiser
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Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
On my 2000 FXST (bobtail rear fender) I cannot get one of the rear strut bolts out. It goes throught the license plate holder then through the fender and strut. The other side came out but this one will just spin and spin and not come out. What gives?????????
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rochester, NY
RE: Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
I can't be absolutly sure, but on my 07 there are no bolts that go through the plate holder, fender and strut. The plate holder has two hex headed bolts (per side) that go through a plate under the fender that doubles as a kind of blind nut for a couple of the fender/strut bolts. They actually thread into brass threaded inserts moulded into plate holder/tailight assembly.
If its the same and its one of those four hex bolts giving you the problem. Its likely that the brass inset "nut" has broken free of the plastic housing assembly. That would allow the bolt to spin freely without ever coming off.
There are two ways to "fix" it that I can think of off the top of my head.
The first is to see about sticking ascrewdriver in alonside the plate and see if you can kind of jam or hold the brass piece still long enough for you to get the bolt out.
Or pull off the fender strut on that side to get the two bolts holding in the blind nut plate your "problem" bolt goes through. You really only need to get at the two rear fender boltsbut unfortunatly they hid one under the strut and to get that one out means pulling the whole strut off.
Hope that helps,if it doesen't see aboutposting a pic of the offending bolt. It might give me a better idea exactly what your dealing with.
If its the same and its one of those four hex bolts giving you the problem. Its likely that the brass inset "nut" has broken free of the plastic housing assembly. That would allow the bolt to spin freely without ever coming off.
There are two ways to "fix" it that I can think of off the top of my head.
The first is to see about sticking ascrewdriver in alonside the plate and see if you can kind of jam or hold the brass piece still long enough for you to get the bolt out.
Or pull off the fender strut on that side to get the two bolts holding in the blind nut plate your "problem" bolt goes through. You really only need to get at the two rear fender boltsbut unfortunatly they hid one under the strut and to get that one out means pulling the whole strut off.
Hope that helps,if it doesen't see aboutposting a pic of the offending bolt. It might give me a better idea exactly what your dealing with.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Midland, TX
RE: Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
Maybe the training wheels have it in a bind.
Seriously, check to see if there is a nut on the inside where you need a back up wrench or if the nut is welded to the inside of the fender. If it is welded, and has unscrewed from the nut, then the fender or strut is probably not completely lined up and keeping it from backing out the rest of the way. If that's the case, you'll need to try to get everything in alignment and possibly put a screwdriver between the bolt head and the license plate holder to put a little outward pressure on it as you unscrew it.
Rotzaruck
Seriously, check to see if there is a nut on the inside where you need a back up wrench or if the nut is welded to the inside of the fender. If it is welded, and has unscrewed from the nut, then the fender or strut is probably not completely lined up and keeping it from backing out the rest of the way. If that's the case, you'll need to try to get everything in alignment and possibly put a screwdriver between the bolt head and the license plate holder to put a little outward pressure on it as you unscrew it.
Rotzaruck
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RE: Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
As I recall from removing my fender, there's a nut 'permanently' attached to the license bracket. You'll need to check if that got loose and is turning with the bolt. If so, then you should be able to hold it with a wrench or vice grips while loosening the bolt. Hope it works out for you!
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Cruiser
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RE: Rear Fender Bolt stuck??
OK, Ended up pulling the rear fender tonight to drill out the bolt. Maybe it's the bits or the fact that my chaep drill does not have enough power, but I drilled for about an hour with little head way (not too mention I've never drilled out a bolt before). I'm going to take it to work tomorrow and see what we can do in our shop. Any advice would be great.
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